Saturday, October 29, 2011

10/28 Recap: Leduc streak snapped; Sundher leads pack

Jerome Gauthier-Leduc saw his 12-game point streak come to an end Friday as Rimouski came up short against Shawinigan, 2-1. The 6'1 righty remains the QMJHL's top scoring defenseman, ranking fifth in the league with 26 points (11+15). Leduc's roll was the longest for a Sabres defensive prospect since Kootenay's Brayden McNabb ripped off an 11-gamer last year. Marc-Andre Gragnani posted a 10-game streak for PEI back in 2005-06. Leduc will look to start anew Sunday against Victoriaville.

Kevin Sundher scored a pair of regulation goals, his sixth and seventh of the year, as Victoria lost a 4-3 shootout to Seattle. The two clubs went scoreless for two periods before opening things up with a six-goal third. Sundher opened scoring 23-seconds in with an unassisted shorthanded goal. He'd later force overtime with just 1:25 to play to give him 27 points this season, overcoming Leduc for tops among all Sabres prospects. Per the WHL injury report, T-Birds center Colin Jacobs remains out for a month with an upper body injury. The two clubs will play it back on Saturday.



Gregg Sutch scored a goal and an assist while tossing his weight around throughout as Barrie lost at Brampton, 4-3. The 6'2 checker has four points (2+2) in his last three games, and it's fair to expect those numbers to keep spiking if he continues skating on a line with Winnipeg Jets property Mark Scheifele. Alex Lepkowski missed his eighth game with an upper body injury. The Colts host Windsor on Saturday.



Elsewhere, Cedrick Henley notched two assists as Val-d'Or lost to Halifax, 3-2. The 6'5 forward had five assists in his first 10 games, but has four goals and three assists in five game since. The teams will play a rematch on Saturday.

Dan Catenacci picked up a power play assist but finished a game-low -3 as Owen Sound was edged in overtime at London, 3-2. Seven of Catenacci's 11 helpers this season have come with the man advantage. The Attack host Oshawa on Saturday.

Mark Pysyk logged a -1 as Edmonton dropped their fourth game of the year, falling to the Regina Pats 4-1. Pysyk took a third period cross-checking penalty that resulted on a Dominik Volek ('12) goal to give the Pats a 3-1 lead. The Oil Kings travel to Brandon on Saturday.

In NCAA play, Connor Knapp was pulled after allowing four goals in 27-minutes of work as #16 Miami  lost for the second straight night to #18 Lake Superior, 5-3. Knapp had stopped 11 of 15 shots prior to getting the hook. The Redhawks (2-6-0), who were swept at home for the first time since 2006-07, will look to snap a five-game losing streak next weekend at Alaska.

Brad Navin (1 SOG) committed a costly hooking penalty late as Wisconsin lost to Nebraska-Omaha, 5-4. With Navin off to the box at 18:42 of the third, the Badgers gave up a power play goal with 21-seconds left in regulation to fall to 3-4-0 on the year. The series continues Saturday in Madison.

Christian Isackson was a scratch as #8 Minnesota cruised to a 5-0 win over Alaska-Anchorage. The Gophers and Seawolves will do it again Saturday.

Brad Eidsness served as backup as #12 North Dakota suffered a 4-0 home-ice defeat at the hands of St. Cloud State. It's unclear as of now, but Eidsness could get the nod Saturday as the Sioux (2-4-1) look to earn the split.

Drew MacKenzie did not play due to injury as Vermont opened their Hockey East schedule with a 4-1 loss to #9 Merrimack. The Catamounts and Warriors will rematch on Saturday.

Mark Adams remained out with a lower body injury as Providence lost in OT at Maine, 5-4. The sophomore is likely still multiple weeks away from returning to the Friars.

In the ECHL, Corey Fienhage tapped-in a 2x1 finish for his second professional goal as Gwinnett fell in overtime to Wheeling, 3-2. The 6'3 defenseman has two goals and an assist in six Coast League contests.